maia313's reviews
27 reviews

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

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funny lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

4.0

Really enjoyed! Very nice prose, like reading a diary. Even for someone not massively interested in animals enough to read about their habits, is written in a nice and interesting enough way to be throughouly enjoyable.
Throttled by Lauren Asher

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

yuh
The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon

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challenging mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Think I would have enjoyed this more upon a second reading - fairly hard to follow but an interesting read! great as a postmodern text, would like to read more Pynchon. However, some parts are left unanswered which although well done, feels a bit unsatisfying. The paranoia/conspiracy element I enjoyed, but thought this could have been played on a bit more. Will be interesting to study and to compare to other works.
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Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

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4.0

Having seen the film many times, this was a great read. Really funny, good relatability, doesn't take itself seriously. Fairly different from the film in that Mark Darcy is not in it as much, and
they don't properly end up together/kiss in the book.
Some parts slightly outdated, but interestingly so, as although not as PC with modern feminism, still quite relatable. A fun read.
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Passing by Nella Larsen

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challenging reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Read for uni, really interesting to read and study. Love the topic of the Harlem renaissance, the settings of both NYC and Chicago and the character's places in them really come to life. And very interesting reflections on race, class.
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An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Brill read- bit soppy but you know that going in, brill for a fun light read although I did cry lol- benedict keeps the title as the best Bridgerton man and sophie as the leading lady is perfect 
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The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner

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informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

Don't often pick up non fiction books, but loved the style of this one. Definitely written more like an biographical fiction, a diary entry, rather than a factual book with references. 
This is a Chair by Caryl Churchill

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challenging funny mysterious reflective
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Really fascinating read. The sections seem very disconnected to the title, but found it really enjoyable to go through and come up with interpretations. A great example of absurdist postmodern theatre.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

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reflective fast-paced

3.5

For uni- preferred this to 'the driver's seat.' found the flicking across time really interesting, the driver's seat was v effective by nature as it was much shorter so felt more chaotic. This book took the same style but felt more reflective, more of a journey. A text that was really interesting to study. 
Wind/Pinball by Haruki Murakami

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reflective relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

Interesting to read the first Murakami work as a fan. Read this last in the rat trilogy which kept my interest going- well written and enjoyed it but too much of 'nothing happens' for me personally.